Habitat loss and fragmentation is the greatest threat to Koala survival. Hawkesbury Koalas are the most genetically diverse in the Country and therefore it is paramount that we provide them protections before it is too late.
Hawkesbury Council in 2022 was the only peri-urban Council in NSW to opt into the Rural Boundary Clearing Code, enabling clearing (25m) of boundary habitat without oversight. Council shortly after this time committed to undertake vegetation mapping with the aim of implementing a Koala Plan of Management which as yet has not been funded or completed.
The Koala Plan of Management will safeguard habitat connectivity for Koalas.
The Koala Plan of Management is completed in three stages:
1. Vegetation mapping (currently underway),
2. Habitat mapping (not yet funded), and
3. Plan of Management (not yet funded).
We call on Council to immediately act and commit funds to the next stage (Habitat Mapping).